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UPDATE: Body found in suspicious blaze

“Police now confirm that a body has been discovered inside the home,”
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UPDATE: April 2 4:40 p.m.

Kelowna RCMP say a body was discovered in a home destroyed by a fire on Saturday,

While fire and police crews could not initially get inside the building due to safety concerns, investigators did gain access and locate the body.

“Police now confirm that a body has been discovered inside the home,” says Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey.

“The individual’s death and the circumstances surrounding the fire are still being considered suspicious at this time.”

At the time of the fire, neighbours told the Cap News three people were seen running out of the back of the house after the windows were blown out. The house was also known in the neighbourhood as an alleged drug house.

O’Donaghey says RCMP continue to secure the scene, as serious crime investigators continue to work closely with the Kelowna Fire Department and now the BC Coroners Service.

“Until the individual’s identification can be confirmed, and their family properly notified, police will not be releasing any details with respect to their age or gender,” adds O’Donaghey.

Updates will be provided by RCMP as they become available.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Kelowna RCMP at 250-762-3300. Or remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, leaving a tip online at www.crimestoppers.net or by texting your tip to CRIMES (274637) ktown.

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UPDATE: April 1 12:15 p.m.

RCMP have now secured the scene of a suspicious early-morning blaze that fully engulfed a home on Stockwell Avenue.

On April 1 at 7:14 a.m., Kelowna RCMP received a request to assist the Kelowna Fire Department who were responding to reports of a fully-engulfed residential structure fire on Stockwell Avenue.

“The Kelowna RCMP have secured the scene and continue to work collaboratively with the Kelowna Fire Department as investigators work to probe the blaze which is being treated as suspicious in nature at this time,” states Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey.

Due to concerns for the safety of emergency crews at the scene, investigators have been unable to enter the home to advance their investigation.

Any updates will be provided as they become available.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Kelowna RCMP at 250-762-3300. Or remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, leaving a tip online at www.crimestoppers.net or by texting your tip to CRIMES (274637) ktown.

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UPDATE: 11 a.m.

The Kelowna Fire Department says further information about this morning’s suspicious fire will be coming from RCMP.

Platoon Captain Steve Wallick says fire crews were called to Stockwell Avenue at 7:10 a.m.

“When fire fighters arrived on scene they encountered heavy fire activity,” reports Wallick.

“Entry to the structure was deemed unsafe and the fire was extinguished from the exterior.”

More details to come.

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ORIGINAL: 8:30 a.m.

Emergency crews rushed to the scene of a violent house fire on the 900 of Stockwell Avenue in Kelowna Saturday morning.

Neighbours tell the Cap News they called 911 at 7:10 a.m. after they heard a ‘boom’, saw windows blown out and then saw plumes of smoke and fire start shooting out of the home.

One neighbour said she personally heard two loud booms and looked outside to see one window explode and flames shoot from another window.

Reports in the neighbourhood state the occupants allegedly took off from the back of the home once the fire began.

The house was entirely gutted by the fire

The occupants of the home are currently missing.

Kelowna Fire Department crews are still working to fully extinguish the blaze.

More information is expected from Fire and RCMP this morning and Cap News will update this story as more information becomes available.

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